Unilever celebrates Heroes for Change student volunteers.

Approximately 100 University of Nairobi students have joined the Heroes for Change, a flagship program from Unilever Limited that aims at mentoring the young people and making them champions for oral health and hygiene.

Unilever Global CEO – Mr. Paul Polman, who was the Chief Guest during the event challenged students to create an impact and be everyday heroes with the little opportunities they are given. On the environment, Polman cautioned the students against the dangers of destroying the environment and exploitation of the available resources. “In 20 years, we shall have more plastics in the ocean, than the fish’, exclaimed Polman.

Polman as well explained in detail the various ways in which Unilever is lifting millions of people out of poverty and the plans they have to help many women and vulnerable children in the African continent as far as preventing trachoma, improving their nutrition and hygiene. Polman urged students to develop the willpower to succeed in their endevours. “The young people have the solutions to our challenges and you don’t need the money, you need the will power’, he said.

In his concluding remarks, Pollman noted that the keys to success include: passion for the job, having the right attitude and networking.

Prof. Isaac Mbeche, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic Affairs, thanked the Unilever team for showing commitment to the youth agenda and for donating $ 10,000 as seed funding to support youth start-up projects that will be key in changing the lives of communities. He also congratulated students who joined the ‘Heroes for Change’ program. Prof. Mbeche was speaking on behalf of the University of Nairobi, Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Peter Mbithi.

“The youth lack good role models. It is in this endevour that the University of Nairobi has been at the forefront in implementing youth mentorship program and this program comes at the right time,’ he equipped.

A total of 100 University of Nairobi students have been selected to join the Unilever flagship program, ‘Heroes For Change’ that aims at reaching all the vulnerable women and children in Kenya. They will be working as volunteers having been armed with skills on health and wellbeing.

The program was supported by various partners, key among them; Amref, UNFPA, Sight Savers, Safaricom among others.